Accra, Ghana, 7-9 October 2025: UNIDO pre-launched a new publication series under the project “Increasing African production of vaccines and essential medicines through business linkages and technology transfer” on the sidelines of the African Healthcare Manufacturing Trade Exhibition and Conference (AHMTEC). Funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ), the initiative advanced business linkages and technology transfer through two complementary components. The first focused on essential medicines in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria — supporting the development of marketing plans, skills enhancement, and targeted technology transfer to strengthen local manufacturing. The second component addressed vaccine production across the ECOWAS and EAC regions; it promoted regional coordination, regulatory readiness, and lean production models to accelerate Africa’s pathway toward vaccine sovereignty.
The publication “Advancing Vaccine and Essential Medicine Manufacturing in Africa: Guidelines for Effective Technology Transfer and Business Partnership” provides a hands-on roadmap for African manufacturers, regulators, and policymakers. It outlines institutional prerequisites such as regulatory harmonization, quality assurance, and intellectual property considerations, while offering practical tools for managing technology transfer processes. A complementary brochure presents the guidelines in a concise and user-friendly format for quick reference. Additionally, the investment portfolio “Investment Opportunities in Vaccine and Essential Medicines Manufacturing: Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria” showcases high-potential pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturers, connecting them to prospective partners and investors.
“The event brought together manufacturers from across the continent, creating a rare space for direct engagement and collaboration,” said Rowan Ahmed, UNIDO Project Coordinator. “It is time to grasp this opportunity, catch the momentum of South–South collaboration, and move together toward a sovereign Africa. These guidelines offer a practical instrument to bridge gaps between countries — not only in technology, but in trust, coordination and shared vision. If we act together, we can accelerate Africa’s path toward pharmaceutical self-reliance.”
The official launch of the publications is expected later this year.